Gateshead F.C.

Association football club in Gateshead, England

For the defunct football club, see Gateshead A.F.C.

Football club

Gateshead

Full name| Gateshead Football Club
Nickname(s)| The Tynesiders, The Heed
Founded| 1977
Ground| Gateshead International Stadium
Capacity| 11,800
Chairman| Bernard McWilliams
Manager| Alun Armstrong
League| National League
2024–25| National League, 8th of 24
Website| gateshead-fc.com

Home colours

Away colours

|

Gateshead Football Club is a professional association football club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system, and play their home matches at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Established in 1977 after Gateshead United folded, the club are known as the "Tynesiders" or the "Heed". There had been a Gateshead A.F.C. in the Football League from 1930 to 1960, which had folded before Gateshead United had been established. The current incarnation of the club began life in the Northern Premier League, winning Premier Division titles in the 1982–83 and 1985–86 seasons. However they were relegated from the Football Conference in 1984 and 1987. They secured promotion back to the Conference at the end of the 1989–90 season, though would remain there until another relegation in 1998. The club were further relegated from the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2003. They won the First Division play-offs in 2004 and the Premier Division play-offs in 2008, before winning promotion from the Conference North with a second-placed finish in 2008–09. Gateshead spent the next decade in the top-flight of English football's non-League system, losing a play-off final in 2014, before they were demoted to the National League North in 2019 due to financial irregularities. They returned to the National League after winning the National League North in 2021–22. They won their first FA Trophy title in the 2023–24 season having finished as runners-up in the previous competition.

## History

[edit]

The original Gateshead club was formed in 1899 as South Shields Adelaide and became members of the Football League in 1919. In 1930 financial problems saw the club moved to Gateshead, where they adopted the name of their new town.[1] However, the club was voted out of the Football League in 1960 and folded in 1973. History repeated itself as the South Shields club formed to replace the original one was also moved to Gateshead, becoming Gateshead United in 1974. However, they were dissolved at the end of the 1976–77 season. A new club was established, taking over from United in the Northern Premier League.[1] After three seasons in the bottom half of the table, they finished eleventh in 1980–81, also reaching the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 1–0 at Lincoln City. The club finished fourth in the league the following season.[2]

The 1982–83 season saw Gateshead win the Northern Premier League with a record points tally (100), scoring 114 goals in the process.[1] As a result, the club were promoted to the Alliance Premier League. After a sixteenth-place finish in their first season in the league, they finished second-from-bottom in 1984–85 and were relegated back to the Northern Premier League.[2] The following season saw the club win the Northern Premier League title and the league's Challenge Shield,[3] earning an immediate return to the (now renamed) Football Conference. However, they lasted only one season in the Conference, and were relegated back to the Northern Premier League after finishing bottom of the table.[2]

With the Northern Premier League having gained a second division, Gateshead became members of its Premier Division upon their return to the league. They finished eighteenth in 1987–88 and second-from-bottom the following season, but avoided relegation to Division One as no team was relegated to the league from the Conference. After this reprieve, the club were runners-up in 1989–90 and were promoted back to the Conference,[2] as champions Colne Dynamoes were ineligible for promotion. The following seven seasons saw them in mid-table every season, but after finishing in the relegation zone in 1997–98, they returned to the Northern Premier League.[2]

After two top-five finishes following their return, Gateshead finished in mid-table in 2000–01 and 2001–02.[2] Although they were relegated to Division One at the end of the 2002–03 season,[2] a sixth-place finish in 2003–04 was sufficient to secure a return to the Premier Division due to the creation of the Conference North and South leading to many clubs leaving the Premier Division. A third-place finish in the Premier Division in 2007–08 saw the club qualify for the promotion play-offs, and after defeating Eastwood Town 4–0 in the semi-finals, they beat Buxton 2–0 in the final to earn promotion to the Conference North.[4]

In the 2008–09 season, Gateshead were Conference North runners-up.[2] In the subsequent play-offs, they beat Southport 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, before a 1–0 win over AFC Telford United in the final saw them promoted to the Conference National.[2] The club adopted a full-time squad for the first time for the 2010–11 season.[5] In 2013–14, the club finished third in the league, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. They beat Grimsby Town 4–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, setting up a Wembley final against Cambridge United, which they lost 2–1.[6][7] In the following season the club reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time; wins over Norton United in the first round and Warrington Town in the second led to a third-round tie with Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, with Gateshead losing 7–0.[2] The club were suspended from the National League in May 2019 due to financial irregularities,[8] and were demoted to the National League North the following month.[9]

The curtailed 2019–20 season saw Gateshead finish seventh (with the league table calculated on points-per-game), qualifying for the play-offs.[10][2] However, after beating Brackley Town on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the first round, they lost 5–3 to Boston United in the semi-finals.[11] In 2021–22 Gateshead were National League North champions, earning promotion back to the National League.[12] The 2022–23 season saw them reach the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium, where they lost 1–0 to FC Halifax Town.[13] After finishing sixth in the National League in 2023–24, the club were barred from competing in the play-offs after failing to meet the entry criteria for the Football League due to not obtaining a "10-year security of tenure" for their stadium.[14] They also reached a second successive FA Trophy final, this time defeating Solihull Moors on penalties following a 2–2 draw to win the competition.[15]

## Colours and crest

[edit]

The club initially played in all red strip with a white and blue vertical slash on the shirt. Gateshead continued to play in odd-coloured variations until the mid-1980s, when the club changed to the colours of the previous Gateshead incarnation – white shirt, black shorts and socks – and have played in these same colours ever since. Since 2011, Gateshead has adopted their original colours of claret and blue as the club's away strip.[citation needed]

The club's crest incorporates an image of the statue the Angel of the North.[16]

## Stadium

[edit]

The club have played at the Gateshead International Stadium since their establishment. The record attendance of 11,750 was set in a 1995 friendly match with Newcastle United.[17]

The stadium planned in 2009

On 28 October 2009, Gateshead unveiled plans for a new 8,000 capacity stadium to be built in the town centre, opposite the Gateshead Civic Centre, formerly the home of North Durham Cricket & Rugby Club.[18] However, after the failure of England's bids to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, the stadium, which would have acted as a training base for teams playing at nearby St James' Park, was put on hold indefinitely. In 2014, it was reported that chairman Graham Wood "no longer considers a new purpose-built football ground vital to the future of Gateshead Football Club".[19] In December 2015, the club's new owner, Richard Bennett, announced that the club had restarted the search for a new stadium location, although he described the International Stadium as "fabulous".[20] Despite Gateshead qualifying for the National League play-offs in 2023–24, they were excluded due to Gateshead Council failing to grant the club a ten-year security of tenure for the International Stadium, which is required for all teams that apply for EFL membership from the National League.[21]

## Current squad

[edit]

As of 28 July 2025[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  IRL | Tiernan Brooks
2  | DF |  ENG | Callum Johnson
3  | DF |  ENG | David Ferguson
4  | MF |  ENG | Jacob Butterfield
5  | DF |  ENG | Kenton Richardson
10  | MF |  ENG | Max Sheaf
12  | FW |  ENG | Kain Adom
18  | DF |  ENG | Joe Grayson
20  | MF |  ENG | Fenton John
xx  | DF |  ENG | Carter Millmore
xx  | MF |  ENG | Harry Chapman
xx  | MF |  ENG | Will Flint (on loan from Doncaster Rovers
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

23  | MF |  ENG | Tyrelle Newton
26  | MF |  ENG | Connor Pani
29  | FW |  ENG | Frank Nouble
31  | DF |  ENG | Ben Williams
39  | FW |  ENG | Oli Thompson
41  | GK |  ENG | George Shelvey
45  | FW |  ENG | Jovan Malcolm
xx  | FW |  ENG | Lucas Lowery
xx  | FW |  ENG | Dom Telford

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

xx  | GK |  ENG | Peter Jameson (on loan to Darlington)
xx  | MF |  ENG | Will McGowan (on loan to Darlington)

## Non-playing staff

[edit]

As of 11 July 2025[23]
Coaching staff

Position | Name
Manager  | Alun Armstrong
Assistant Manager  | Jacob Butterfield
First Team Coach  | Ian Skinner
Goalkeeping Coach  | Peter Jameson
Community Officer  | Ben Clark
Physiotherapist  | Frazer Bell
Kit Manager  | Simon Johnson

As of 9 June 2025[23]
Non-playing staff

Position | Name
Chairman  | Bernard McWilliams
Directors  | Laurence Dinning, Mark Nellist, Tony Carter
Media manager  | Jack McGraghan

## Managerial history

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Years | Manager | Ref

|
|

1977–1986 | Ray Wilkie |
1986 | Terry Hibbitt |
1986–1987  | George Smith |
1987–1988 | Dave Parnaby |
1988  | Billy Bell |
1988  | John Carver (caretaker) |
1988–1990  | Dave Parnaby |
1990  | Jim Pearson (caretaker) |
1990–1991 | Tony Lee |
1991–1993 | Tommy Cassidy |
1993–1997 | Colin Richardson |
1997 | Jim Platt |
1997–1998 | John Carroll |
1998 | Alan Shoulder, Gary Robson (co-caretakers) |
1998–2001 | Matt Pearson |
2001–2002 | Paul Proudlock |
2002 | Gary Gill | [24]
2002–2004 | Derek Bell |
2004 | Alan Bell |
2004–2005 | Tom Wade |
2005–2006 | Colin Richardson |
2006–2007 | Tony Lee | [25]
2007–2012 | Ian Bogie | [26]
2012–2013 | Anth Smith | [27]
2013 | David Rush (caretaker) | [28]
2013–2015 | Gary Mills | [29]
2015 | Malcolm Crosby | [30]
2015 | Ben Clark, Micky Cummins (co-caretakers) |
2015–2017 | Neil Aspin | [31]
2017 | Micky Cummins (caretaker) | [32]
2017–2019 | Steve Watson | [33]
2019 | Ben Clark | [34]
2019–2023 | Mike Williamson | [35][36]
2023–2024 | Rob Elliot | [37][38]
2024 | Ben Clark (caretaker) |
2024–2025 | Carl Magnay | [39]
2025– | Alun Armstrong | [40]

## Honours

[edit]

* FA Trophy
* Winners 2023–24
* National League
* National League North champions 2021–22[2]
* Northern Premier League
* Champions 1982–83, 1985–86[2]
* Challenge Shield winners 1985–86[3]

## Records

[edit]

* Best FA Cup performance: Third round, 2014–15[2]
* Best FA Trophy performance: Winners, 2023–24[2]
* Record attendance: 11,750 vs Newcastle United, friendly match, 7 August 1995[17]
* Biggest win: 8–0 vs Netherfield, Northern Premier League[17]
* Heaviest defeat: 9–0 vs Sutton United, Football Conference, 22 September 1990[17]
* Most appearances: James Curtis, 596 (2003–2016)[17][41]
* Most goals: Paul Thompson, 130[17] (1995–1997, 1999–2004, 2005–2008)
* Record transfer fee paid: £9,000 to Dagenham & Redbridge for Paul Cavell, 1994[17]
* Record transfer fee received: £250,000 from Peterborough United for Marcus Maddison, 2014[42][43]

## See also

[edit]

* Gateshead F.C. players
* Gateshead F.C. managers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Our History". Gateshead F.C. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gateshead at the Football Club History Database
3. ^ a b "Club information and contacts". Gateshead Fc.
4. ^ "2007–08 Northern Premier League". Football Club History Database.
5. ^ Bowron, Jeff (28 April 2010). "Gateshead confirm Ian Bogie as full time manager". Gateshead F.C. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012.
6. ^ Joe Townsend (4 May 2014). "Gateshead 3–1 Grimsby Town (agg 4–2)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
7. ^ "Cambridge United 2–1 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 18 May 2014.
8. ^ "Gateshead: Club suspended from National League after 'multiple breaches' of financial rules". BBC Sport. 24 May 2019.
9. ^ "Gateshead relegated to National League North after financial breaches". BBC Sport. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
10. ^ "Barrow promoted back to English Football League after National League vote". BBC Sport. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
11. ^ Craig Singleton (25 July 2020). "Match Report: Boston United 5–3 Gateshead". Boston United F.C. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
12. ^ Jeff Bowron (2 May 2022). "Gateshead clinch promotion to National League as Chorley draw seals title". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
13. ^ Luke De Costa (21 May 2023). "FA Trophy final: FC Halifax Town 1–0 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
14. ^ "Gateshead barred from National League play-offs over ground lease". BBC Sport. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
15. ^ "FA Trophy final: Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors (5–4 on pens)". BBC Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
16. ^ Passionate People, Passionate Places: Our Angel of the North Chronicle Live, 6 December 2020
17. ^ a b c d e f g Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p32 ISBN 978-1869833695
18. ^ Gateshead FC unveil new stadium site Gateshead F.C., 28 October 2009
19. ^ Book reveals Gateshead might ditch new stadium plans Chronicle Live, 27 July 2014
20. ^ Brown, Steve (13 December 2015). "Gateshead have restarted the search for a new home, says Tynesiders owner Richard Bennett". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
21. ^ "Gateshead barred from National League play-offs over ground lease". BBC Sport. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
22. ^ "First Team Squad – Gateshead FC". Gateshead FC. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
23. ^ a b "Club Information & Contacts". Gateshead F.C. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
24. ^ Chronicle, Evening (8 February 2002). "Gary Vows To Get Gateshead Back On Track". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
25. ^ "Tony Lee gets Gateshead job". 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
26. ^ Bowron, Jeff (28 April 2010). "Gateshead confirm Ian Bogie as full time manager". Gateshead Football Club. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
27. ^ "Gateshead appoint from within". 28 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
28. ^ "Smith Resignation Accepted". 18 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
29. ^ "Gateshead appoint Mills as manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
30. ^ "Gateshead appoint Crosby new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
31. ^ "Aspin appointed Gateshead manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
32. ^ "Gateshead 1-2 Bromley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
33. ^ "Watson named new Gateshead manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
34. ^ "Clark named permanent Gateshead boss". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
35. ^ "Gateshead appoint Williamson player-boss". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
36. ^ "Mike Williamson: MK Dons appoint Gateshead manager as head coach". BBC Sport. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
37. ^ "Gateshead name caretaker Elliot as permanent boss". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
38. ^ "Crawley announce Gateshead boss Elliot as manager". BBC Sport. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
39. ^ "Gateshead name ex-defender Magnay as new manager". BBC Sport. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
40. ^ "Gateshead FC Appoint Alun Armstrong As First-Team Manager". gateshead-fc.com. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
41. ^ "Gateshead release defender Curtis". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
42. ^ Marcus Maddison sale can help Gateshead thrive – Gary Mills BBC Sport, 28 August 2014
43. ^ Gateshead receive another cash windfall after Marcus Maddison plays his 20th game for Peterborough Chronicle Live, 10 February 2015

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gateshead F.C..

* Official website
*   * Gateshead F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures

* v
* t
* e

Gateshead Football Club

The club|

* Seasons
* Gateshead International Stadium

Matches|

* 2014 Conference Premier play-off final
* 2023 FA Trophy final
* 2024 FA Trophy final

* v
* t
* e

National League

2025–26
Clubs|

| National|

| Clubs|

* Aldershot Town
* Altrincham
* Boreham Wood
* Boston United
* Brackley Town
* Braintree Town
* Carlisle United
* Eastleigh
* Forest Green Rovers
* Gateshead
* FC Halifax Town
* Hartlepool United
* Morecambe
* Rochdale
* Scunthorpe United
* Solihull Moors
* Southend United
* Sutton United
* Tamworth
* Truro City
* Wealdstone
* Woking
* Yeovil Town
* York City

|

Grounds|

* Boston Community Stadium
* Brunton Park
* Cressing Road
* Damson Park
* Gander Green Lane
* Gateshead International Stadium
* Glanford Park
* Grosvenor Vale
* Huish Park
* Kingfield Stadium
* Mazuma Mobile Stadium
* Meadow Park
* Moss Lane
* Recreation Ground
* Roots Hall
* Spotland Stadium
* St. James Park
* Ten Acres
* The Lamb Ground
* The New Lawn
* The Shay
* Truro City Stadium
* Victoria Park
* York Community Stadium

North|

* AFC Fylde
* AFC Telford United
* Alfreton Town
* Bedford Town
* Buxton
* Chester
* Chorley
* Curzon Ashton
* Darlington
* Hereford
* Kidderminster Harriers
* King's Lynn Town
* Leamington
* Macclesfield
* Marine
* Merthyr Town
* Oxford City
* Peterborough Sports
* Radcliffe
* Scarborough Athletic
* South Shields
* Southport
* Spennymoor Town
* Worksop Town

South|

* AFC Totton
* Bath City
* Chelmsford City
* Chesham United
* Chippenham Town
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Dorking Wanderers
* Dover Athletic
* Eastbourne Borough
* Ebbsfleet United
* Enfield Town
* Farnborough
* Hampton & Richmond Borough
* Hemel Hempstead Town
* Hornchurch
* Horsham
* Maidenhead United
* Maidstone United
* Salisbury
* Slough Town
* Tonbridge Angels
* Torquay United
* Weston-super-Mare
* Worthing

Seasons|

* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

See also: National League Cup
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template